"WATERCRESS QUEEN."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19156, 12 November 1927, Page 12

"WATERCRESS QUEEN."

♦ DEATH OF COVENT GARDEN IDENTITY. (rjujii our owir corhbspoxdeitt.) LONDON. September 30. Mrs E. James, known as "The Waterceess Queen of Covenfc Garden," where she was for many years a familiar figure; died at her home at Kennington Oval this week. She had been ill for nine months. Mrs James traded under the name of James and Son of Covent Garden, Spitalfields, : and elsewhere. She started her business in a very small way at Covent Garden Market, which she attended as early as half-past four in the morninp- and one or two people still there caii remember the time, years ago. when she herself used to carry her cress to market. At the time of her death she owned many acres of watercress beds at Hurstbourne Priors. Hampshire on

the estate of the Earl of Portsmouth, and at Mitcham, Beddington, and other places. She was the largest supplier of watercress to Covent Garden, and was reputed to be the biggest owner of watercress beds in the world —hence her nickname of "The Watercress Queen" Until her illness,-Mrs James was in the habit of going down m her lorries to inspect herbei in Hampshire. . . *